Bit-brace.



E. CLIFFGARD.

BIT BRACE.

APPLICATION FILED FE8.2I.1918.

Patentd Dec. 3, 1918.

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ELMER CLIFFGARD, OF GRAFTON, NORTH DAKOTA.

BIT-BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

Application filed February 21, 1918. Serial No. 218,538.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER OLIFFGARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grafton, in the county of Walsh and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bit-Braces, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved b1t brace and has for its primary object to pro vide a device of this character designed for very rapid operation and with a minimum of manual exertion upon the part of the operator.

It is another object of my lnvention to provide a bit brace as above characterized including a main shaft having a breast plate on one end and provided with add1t1onal means whereby said shaft may be securely held in a stationary position.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved con struction, combination and arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein, a

Figure 1 is an elevation of my mproved bit brace, one-half of the gear housing belng removed;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawlngs, 5 designates the main shaft to one end of which a breast plate 6 is suitably secured, sald breast plate preferably being of wood. To this shaft 5 at a point intermediate its ends a laterally projecting curved arm 7 is secured, said arm being bifurcated at its outer end as at 8 and provided with a hand grip 9. To the other end of the shaft 5, a relatively large beveled gear 10 is fixed.

11 designates two similar housing sections which are hollowed or chambered out to receive the gear 10. These housing sections are formed with suitable bearing portions for a shaft 12 extending at right angles to the shaft 5 and having a beveled pinion 13 fixed to one of its ends engaged with the teeth of the gear 10. The housing sections 11 are secured in assembled position and tightly clamped together by means of bolts indicated at 14: which are located upon opposite sides of the shafts 5 and 12. To the other end of the shaft 12 a relatively large beveled pinion 15 is fixed with which a smaller pinion 16 secured upon one end of a shaft 17 extending at right angles to the shaft 12 is engaged. These adjacent ends of the shafts 12 and 17 are likewise mounted in bearing extensions of the housing sections 18, said housing sections being formed with cavities or chambers, for the accommodation of the pinions 15 and 16 in a similar manner to the sections of the housing 11. The sections of the housing 18 are likewise detachably clamped together by the bolts 19. The shaft 17 is relatively long and to its other end the relatively large beveled pinion 20 is fixed. This pinion meshes with a smaller pinion 22 on a relatively short shaft 21 extending at right angles to the shaft 17. These geared ends of the shafts 17 and 22 are mounted in the housing sections 23 which are connected by the clamping bolts 24:.

25 designates the bit shaft which may be provided upon one end with a suitable chuck in which the bit is held. To the other end of this shaft the beveled pinion 26 is fixed and meshes with a relatively small beveled pinion 27 on the other end of the shaft 21. The ends of the shafts 21 and 25 are mounted in the housing sections 28 which are clamped together by the bolts 29.

Between the sections of the housing 18 and the housing 23, a hand grip 30 is loosely engaged upon the shaft 17 and between the ends of this grip and the opposed ends of the respective housings suitable washers 31 are disposed to prevent wear upon the ends of the hand grip in the operation of the tool. Each of the gears or pinions is centrally provided with a cylindrical boss upon one face for hearing contact with the opposed walls of the respective housings, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and manner of operation of my invention will be fully understood. The bit point is engaged upon the Work and the plate 6 against the breast of the operator in the usual manner. He then tightly grasps the hand grip 9 with the left hand then with the right hand tightly holding the hand grip 30, the shaft 17 and the shafts 12 and 21 are turned or swung in a the shaft 12 at relatively high speed.

circular path about the axis of the shafts and 25. In this operation it is obvious that as the beveled gear is held stationary the pinion 13 is caused to travel around the tooth face of the gear 10, thereby rotatli ilig 1e large beveled pinion 15 on the other end of this shaft meshing with the pinion 13 on the upper end of the shaft 17 rotates this latter shaft at an increased speed. The pinion 20 on the lower end ,of the shaft 17 engages with the pinion 22 and in turn rotates the shaft 21 at a higher speed and the pinion 27 engaging the shaft 26, rotates the bit shaft at a high speed. The housings or casings afford a protection for the shafts and gear elements and prevent the collection of rock dust or other foreign matter upon the teeth of the gears which would interfere With their proper operation. When necessary however, the housing or casing sections can be easily and quickly detached and removed so that access can be had to the gears. These housing sections may be constructed of sheet metal so that the tool as awhole will be relatively light in weight.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements, it is to be understood that the device is also susceptible of considerable modification therein and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is A bit brace including a main shaft and a drill shaft disposed in axial alinement, said main shaft having a breast plate on one end, a hand hold fixed to said shaft to hold the same stationary, and means for transmitting rotation to the drill shaft including a plurality of angularly disposed shafts intergeared with the drill shaft, and the angu larly disposed shafts adapted to be manually swung in a circular path concentric to the axis of the drill shaft and the main shaft, and housings connecting the several shafts to each other and inclosing the intern'ieshing gear elements.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELMER CLIFFGARD. Witnesses F. H. SPRAGUE, A. E. Conn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

